Tape-measure reel



(No Model.)

J. ROE. TAPE MEASURE REEL.

No. 475,470. Patented May 24, 1 92.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUSTUS ROE, OF PATOHOGUE, NEW YORK.

TAPE-MEASURE REEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,470, dated May 24,1892.

Application filed February 19, 1892. Serial No. 422,098.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JUSTUS ROE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Patohogue, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful 'Im provements in Tape-Measure Reels, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention is directed to the production of a reel for steeltape-measures, wherebya construction is provided which permits the tapeto be reeled and unreeled easily under any circumstances, and the tapecan be held at any point desiret.

My improved reel is adapted for use with what is known as thespider-frame;and the particular matters of my improvement are a novelconstruction of the reel, which permits its use within a center openingof the frame, and which also permits the tape to be reeled so that itsrivet-heads will not tend to crowd the tape to one side against the barsof the frame, and thus prevent binding and wear of of the tape edges,and a novel construction for fastening the tape to the reel within theopen center of the frame, whereby the fastened end of the tape is out ofthe way of the frame-arms and makes no obstructionin reeling andunreeling. I also provide the frame with a finger grip arrangeddiametrically over one end of the reel, whereby the frame canbe heldwhile using the reel, the palm of the hand grasping a part of the framewhich projects beyond the circumference of the tape and the fingersgrasping the center-grip bar.

The accompanying drawings illustrate these several novel constructions,in which- Figure 1 represents myim proved tape-measure reel complete.Fig. 2 is a diametric section of the same. Fig. 3 shows the reel with apart of the steel tape wound thereon. Fig. 4 shows the separatespider-frames which permit the use of my improved ring-reel, and Fig. 5is a cross-section of the reel-ring and its seats.

I make the frame of two like spider parts a b, the outer corners of onepart having shouldered bosses c, whereon the other spider part, havingholes d, corresponding to said bosses, is riveted. Each spider parthas acoincident central opening, which I prefer to make about two inches indiameter, and it is within these openings and in the space between thesespi der-frames that the reel is circumferentially seated and retained,being so seated before the spider-frames are riveted together, and thereeling capacityI make one hundred feet, more or less.

The reel d is of ring form, and is fitted to circumferentially seatWithin and upon the walls of the frame-openings, so as to be ro tatedtherein. The ring-reel has a circumferential Web 2 fitting between andhaving bearings upon the inner walls of the spiderframes to hold it fromlateral displacement, and this web has a series of circumferentialprojections f, on which the tape is reeled and which prevents it frombeing crowded to one side in being reeled, and thus prevents the tapefrom binding and wearing at its edges, as it would be liable to do ifthe measure rivet-heads rested directly upon the circumference of thereel-web.

The ring-reel has a recess g, which opens at its inner wall within thecentral opening of the reel and is adapted to receive the usual eye h,which is riveted to the end of the tape, and near this recess the ringhas a circumferential opening 1', through which the tape passes from theinner to the outer side of the ring after having been placed Within therecess, wherein it is fastened by a button j, pivoted to the inner Wallof the ring.

A crank-handle 76 for rotating the reel is hinged at one edge of thereel, so as to be folded across and within the latter. At that side ofthe frame opposite to the reel-crank I secure to the frame a finger-gripZ, placed across the ring, while the frame is made to project betweentwo of its riveted corners, so as to form a hand-rest m, so that, thehand grasping the latter and the finger-grip, the tape can be reeled andunreeled, as seen in Fig. 4. I may, however, use a wooden handle hingedor rigid on the outer side of the frame.

It will be understood that each end of the tape has riveted eyed part h,which has a side lip 0", which serves as a stop to catch against theside of the spider-frame when the tape is fully reeled, and that themanner in which the tape is fastened to the inner wall of the ring-reelplaces this eyed and lipped end within the open center of the frame, and

therefore in rotating the reel the fastened end of thetape is notcarried between the framearms, where it would be liable to catch atevery turn. It will also be understood that the usual link-handle s forthe tape is fast ened in the eyed end of the latter, and that the innerend of thetape may be fastened by other means than the button, so longas such fastening is within the central opening of the reel-ring and thelatter is circumferentially seated within the central opening of areelframe. It will also i be understood that. the circumferential reelprojections may take the place and serve the purpose of the reel-web.

I claim as my improvement- 1. In a tape-measure reel, the combination ofa frame formed of two like side parts, each having a central opening,witharingsreel circumferentially seated in andupon the walls of saidframe-openin g and having a circumferential web between the frame parts,and a handle for rotating .said ring-reel, substantially as-described.

2. In a tape-measurereelythe combination of a frame formed of two likeparts, each having -a central opening and a ring-reel circum ferentiallyseated within and upon thewalls of .saidframe-opening, with atape havingitslend fastened to said ring-reel within the central opening of saidframe, substantially as' described.

3. In a tapemeasure reel, the combination of a frame formed of two likeparts, each having a central opening, with a ring-reel circumferentiallyseated within and upon the walls of said frame-opening and havingcircumferential projections between the frame parts, and a tape havingits end=fastened to said ring-reel within the central opening of' saidframe, substantially as described.

4. In a tape-measure reel, the combination, of a frame formed of twolike parts, each havin g a central opening, with a ring-reelcircumferentially seated within and upon the walls of saidframe-opening, a handle for rotating said reel, and ahand-grasp for theframe, consisting of the finger-grip across the central opening and theprojecting frame part, sub stantially as described.

5. In a tape-measure reel, the combination of aframeformed of two likeparts, each having a central opening. with a reel-ring circumferentiallyseated within and upon the walls of said frame-opening, having acircumferential opening and a recess on its inner wall, a tape passedthrough said ring-opening and seated in said recess, and a buttonpivoted upon the inner wall of thering for securing said tapethereto,substantial1y as described. 6. Ina tape-measure reel, a frameformed of two riveted spider. parts, eachhavinga central opening, incombination with a ringreelhaving a circumferential. web andcircumferential projections :on said web. and circumferentiallyseatedwithin and upon the wallsiof said frame-opening, a handle forrotating said ring-reel, a tape having its end fastened tosaidringaeelwithin' the central opening of said frame, and a hand-graspfor the frame, substantially asdescribed.

a 7. In a tape-measure reel, the combination, with a frame having acentral opening, of a ring-reel circumferentially seated within and uponthe walls. of said opening, and a tape having its end fastened; to saidring within the central opening ofsaid frame, substantially asdescribed.

1 Intestimonywhereoflhavehereunto signed my name, in the prescnceofwitnesses.

JUSTUS ROE.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. POTTER, ISAAC G. WILLETTS.

